Hypertension (hypertension)

According to statistics, 30% of adults will experience periods of hypertension, and this is almost always a sign of an independent pathology or so-called essential hypertension. The number of patients with the disease in my country ranks 49th in the world.If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause complications:

• myocardial infarction;
• stroke;
• acute heart failure;
• Hypertensive crisis.

The insidious thing about the pathology is that in half of the cases the patient does not even suspect that he has a dangerous disease, so without taking any action, high blood pressure begins to show unpleasant symptoms. Many countries have launched preventive programs aimed at combating the pathology. New safe medications are being developed to control blood pressure levels. At the same time, only one-third of people with high blood pressure take adequate treatment and take care of their health.Doctors around the world agree that every home must have a device to measure blood pressure, as well as a thermometer. This is especially true for families with relatives who already have cardiovascular disease.

causes of high blood pressure

Currently, the exact cause of hypertension has not been determined. The main risk factor is prolonged or severe psycho-emotional stress. Other pathological causes include:

• Overweight: For every kilogram of weight gain, blood pressure will increase by 2 mm Hg;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Eat canned foods, bacon, fatty foods, sharp cheese;
• Excessive use of salt in cooking;
• often under stress;
• Smoking – The harmful substances contained in cigarettes can cause mechanical damage to the arterial walls;
• Busy work schedule;
• alcohol consumption;
• Men are too tall or too short;
• physical and nervous fatigue;
• Consumption of animal protein, unrestricted.

Risk factors also include genetic predisposition. Having a first-degree relative with high blood pressure means you are at high risk for developing the disease.What deserves attention is age; after the age of 35, the chance of men suffering from this disease increases. In women, the pathology is associated with the onset of menopause.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

Usually there are no signs of pathology, but sometimes the following symptoms may be observed:

• Headache;
• Fast or weak heartbeat;
• Dizziness;
• Swelling of the eyelids, legs, and arms, and puffiness of the face;
• memory impairment;
• numbness in fingers;
• facial redness;
• Chills;
• increased sweating;
• anxiety;
• internal tension;
• performance degradation;
• irritable;
• "Midge" appeared in front of me.

All these manifestations do not bother the patient continuously but appear only during specific periods. This is the insidious nature of the disease, so if you have the above symptoms, you should seek medical advice. If treatment is not started promptly, over time the disease will begin to progress and may lead to serious complications. Therefore, it is important to control blood pressure. For this purpose, there are now many special tonometers, ranging from traditional mechanical devices to fully automatic models. The operation of a tonometer with a tone endoscope is more difficult; it is not always possible to distinguish the pulsating sounds, but with some training and practice almost everyone can learn this.Do not smoke, drink alcohol or coffee before measuring your blood pressure. It is recommended to rest for a few minutes. Take a sitting position when measuring, and the cuff should be fixed slightly above the elbow, where the pulse is easiest to feel. Most commonly, aneroid (lever and gas-filled) and automatic devices are used to determine pressure. In an outpatient setting, use devices that can monitor changes in pressure throughout the day.Each age group has its own blood pressure standards:

• 16-20 years old - pressure 100/70 – 120/80;
• The norm for those under forty is 120/70 – 130/80;
• From forty to sixty – up to 135/85;
• Sixty years later, normal blood pressure was considered to be 140/90.

If the readings are above normal for several days in a row, you must see a doctor, even if there are no symptoms other than the device data. A competent doctor can provide lifestyle advice on hypertension at an early stage, which will help avoid complications.Hypertension - ClassificationDuring the study of this disease, many different classifications were developed based on the cause, the appearance of the patient, the stability and level of pressure, the causes of the increase, the nature of the course of the disease. Some of them are still used by doctors today.The first classification of hypertension divided it into red and pale. The patient's appearance plays a decisive role in this classification. In the pale variety, the patient has cold limbs and an unhealthy complexion, which can be explained by vasospasm. Red hypertension, when the blood pressure rises, the patient's face will turn red and covered with spots.In practice, one of the most important classifications is the division of diseases by origin. There is a primary or essential form in which it occurs as an isolated pathology. At the same time, there are no diseases of other organs and systems.Minor forms are pathological symptoms of organs involved in regulating vascular tone. These include the renal, endocrine and nervous systems. Hypertension is not uniformly systematized, but doctors generally use the classification recommended by the World Health Organization. It is characterized by the degree of increased pressure.

• Stage 1 hypertension is a type of mild hypertension characterized by a pressure of 140/90 to 159/99 mmHg.
• Grade II Hypertension – Moderate hypertension with pressure rising to 79/109 mm Hg. Art. Sometimes doctors diagnose "hypertension stage 2 risk 2, " which means one or two risk factors are present and there is a likelihood of complications.
• Third degree hypertension is characterized by a severe condition with blood pressure rising to 180/110 mm Hg. Art. Even higher. If after examination, the doctor diagnoses "hypertension, stage 3, risk 4", then you need to start treatment immediately and go to the hospital for help. In this case, the likelihood of complications increases to 30%.

The organs most susceptible to complications of hypertension are:

• Brain – DEP, dementia, stroke, memory loss;
• Kidneys - development of chronic renal failure;
• Heart - heart failure, heart attack, coronary heart disease death;
• vessel;
• Eye.

Doctors classify diseases based on the damage to these organs. Stages of hypertension:

• Stage 1 - The function of the cardiovascular system is not impaired and patients usually do not complain about their condition.
• Stage 2 - The left ventricle enlarges and blood pressure increases. Focal narrowing of retinal blood vessels may be observed.
• Stage III - signs of organ damage appear: chronic renal failure, angina pectoris, hypertensive encephalopathy, diseases that the ophthalmologist can detect when examining the fundus of the eye (swelling of the optic nerve, bleeding), aortic aneurysm.

When sorting, options for increasing pressure will be considered. In this case, distinguish the following forms:

• Diastolic blood pressure – lower pressure increase;
• Systole - only the upper index increases;
• Systolic-diastolic blood pressure;
• Unstable form - In this condition, the pressure rises briefly and returns to normal without the need for special medications.

Some types of hypertension are not included in any classification. These are refractory hypertension and hypertensive crisis.refractory hypertensionIt is arterial hypertension that cannot be corrected by medication. Stress does not decrease even with more than three medications. Sometimes this form of the disease is misdiagnosed due to incorrect medication selection or even incorrect diagnosis.Hypertensive crisis is a condition in which blood pressure rises to critical levels. Therefore, patients will experience symptoms such as dizziness, severe headache, cerebral circulation disorders, and brain fever.Hypertension during pregnancyFor healthy women, blood pressure should remain within a normal range throughout pregnancy. However, starting from the 20th week, some patients may experience gestosis, which occurs due to vasospasm. The results are increased blood pressure, swelling, and nausea. In severe cases, high blood pressure can lead to stroke; this condition can be dangerous for both children and women.Therefore, it is very important for pregnant women to monitor their blood pressure frequently. If your blood pressure rises, you must inform your doctor, who will choose an appropriate high blood pressure treatment that is safe during this period.If you notice similar symptoms, please consult your doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent disease than to deal with its consequences.

diagnosis

Treatment is chosen based on the degree and stage of hypertension. Before starting treatment, the doctor will certainly prescribe diagnostic tests to confirm the presence of the disease.Laboratory tests include: general blood and urinalysis, urinalysis according to Nechiporenko, biochemical blood tests and bacterial culture.Mandatory diagnostic procedures include:

• clinical examination;
• record medical records;
• Measure weight and waist circumference;
• Measure blood pressure in both arms;
• ECG and FCG;
• Fundus examination.

Treatment of high blood pressure

Stage 1 High Blood Pressure, Symptoms, and TreatmentStage 1 hypertension is characterized by periodic increases in pressure that return to normal after a period of time. In this case, patients may experience headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, and "spots" may appear in front of their eyes. In the first stages of the disease, your doctor will tell you how to treat high blood pressure without using special medications. Patients need to adjust their lifestyle, monitor their weight, quit smoking and drinking, exercise regularly, pay attention to diet control, and try to avoid stress and excessive physical exertion.Complementary treatments include: reflexology, massage, physiotherapy, herbal remedies.Medications are rarely prescribed and are only prescribed if other treatments have proven ineffective and the disease has progressed to the next stage of development.High blood pressure 2 degrees, symptoms and treatmentGenerally speaking, this disease does not occur in a short period of time. It takes several years before hypertension progresses to stage 2. Pathological symptoms include:

• nausea;
• Dizziness;
• Headache;
• numbness in fingers and toes;
• fatigue;
• Palpitations.

When blood pressure continues to rise, doctors may prescribe special medications to treat high blood pressure. They must be used continuously regardless of tonometer readings. It is recommended to take diuretics to help remove excess fluid from the body.In some cases, it is decided to prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, which affect the narrowing of blood vessels. They can enhance the effects of diuretics by reducing the ability to produce aldosterone.Use medications that lower blood viscosity and medications that lower cholesterol levels.The large selection of medications makes it possible to individually select a treatment for each patient. At the same time, don’t forget about non-pharmacological and adjunctive means. The combination treatment yielded positive results.High blood pressure level 3, symptoms and treatmentDoctors may diagnose stage 3 hypertension when target organ damage is present. Since blood pressure levels can now be successfully regulated with medications, little attention is paid to the magnitude of blood pressure readings.In most cases, the cause of this degree of disease is seeing a doctor too late and lack of adequate treatment. Modern diagnostic capabilities make it possible to detect the smallest changes in the function of the cardiovascular system. Patients themselves often neglect the opportunity to see a specialist. Taking medications (pills) to treat high blood pressure at certain stages of the disease helps to achieve physiologically normal levels, not just "working blood pressure". This allows patients to avoid the third stage of the disease and significantly improve their quality of life.Signs of organ damage can be added to the symptoms of the disease. Most commonly, damage to blood vessels and central nervous system structures is diagnosed in the brain. The risk of myocardial infarction and hemodynamic instability is significantly increased. The kidneys are damaged and problems related to retinal damage occur.It is important to understand that when an organ is damaged, a vicious cycle can occur. Emerging diseases worsen the course of hypertension; treatment is difficult.As with other conditions, treatment should consist of several stages. These are quantitative physical and recreational activities. Patients need to maintain a sleep schedule, establish healthy eating habits, and not forget medication.Treatment of hypertension in the elderlyOlder adults with this disease represent a separate patient group and require specialized treatments. Medications to lower blood pressure in the elderly have their own characteristics.Standard treatments are not always suitable for patients over 60, but this is no reason to forego treatment. Here it is important to individually choose effective drugs and adjust them to positive results. If there are no complications in the elderly, it is recommended to initiate treatment with a thiazide diuretic. Their effectiveness increases as the patient ages, so these drugs are more effective after age 55 than when they were younger. It is important to remember that the dose of diuretics should be small, as increasing diuretics can cause cholesterol to rise. If the patient has low potassium or sodium levels, potassium-sparing agents are recommended.If the patient is unable to take diuretics for objective reasons, beta-blockers become the drug of choice.In low-renin hypertension, calcium antagonists are used to support cerebral and renal blood flow. Additionally, these drugs are effective in the treatment of angina and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.Angiotensin II receptor blockers and ACE inhibitors are not as effective as the above drugs, but they can be used when other drugs do not provide the desired effect. Strong medications are rarely prescribed because they can cause drowsiness, depression, and low blood pressure, even when standing.Combination drugs to treat high blood pressure have been shown to lower blood pressure more effectively than increasing doses of a single drug. Therefore, in modern medicine, drug combinations are prescribed as:

• diuretics and calcium antagonists;
• Beta blockers and diuretics;
• ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists;
• ACE inhibitor diuretics.

When a hypertensive crisis occurs, patients require rehabilitation. Often this problem can be resolved in a nursing home. Patients are advised to take the following measures:

• physiotherapy;
• dietary nutrition;
• Medicated bath;
• Hardware physiotherapy;
• Phytotherapy;
• Aromatherapy;
• oxygen cocktail;
• Medication Treatment Course.

As maintenance treatments, patients are advised to use electrosleep, laser therapy, and electrophoresis. Due to the electrical impulses, blood pressure decreases and the kidneys and heart become healthier.With the help of sulfide and carbon dioxide baths, the function of the immune system improves, blood pressure normalizes. The choice of surgery depends on the age of the patient and the stage of the disease.Folk remedies in treatmentThe treatment of hypertension should be comprehensive. In addition to traditional dosage forms, traditional medicines can also be used, which include many effective folk remedies.

1. Red clover soup. Brew this plant in the same way as regular tea and drink half a cup in the evening. It is recommended to use only fresh decoction, but you can store the medicine in the refrigerator for up to three days.
2. Honey and garlic. You need to take half a cup of honey, crush five cloves of garlic and grate one lemon along with the peel. Mix everything well and leave it in a dark place for a week, then store the composition in an airtight jar in the refrigerator (you can wrap it with cloth or foil). Take one teaspoon three times daily.
3. vegetable juice. Mix one cup of carrot, black radish and beet juice with one cup of honey and the juice of one lemon. Take one tablespoon three times daily before meals. Course duration is one and a half months.
4. Rosehip infusion can be consumed without restriction.
5. seed. Add washed, unpeeled sunflower seeds to the pot. Pour in one and a half liters of cold water and simmer for about two hours. The broth must be strained and then consumed in cups throughout the day.
6. Golden beard. Chop the dark purple knees and pour 0. 5 liters of vodka. Leave in a dark place for twelve days, shaking the contents gently every three days. Take a spoonful with dessert half an hour before meals.
7. Lemon: Mix 1 cup white onion juice with 1 cup honey and add 50 grams of pre-crushed lemon zest. Seal the container in which the infusion is kept and place it in a dark place. Take one teaspoon of the infusion two to three hours after a meal. Or mix a tablespoon of grated lemon with chopped cranberries in a 1: 1 ratio and add half a tablespoon of fresh rose hips (can be ground through a meat grinder). Add the mixture to a cup of honey and take a tablespoon in the morning and evening.
8. Honey. Mix five hundred grams of May honey with half a liter of vodka and heat until foamy. In this case, the mixture must be constantly stirred. Let it brew. For the second composition, you need to brew a small amount of the following herbs in a liter of water: chamomile, turmeric, valerian, knotweed, motherwort. Let the broth boil, then strain and combine with the first mixture. Leave the tincture in a dark place for three days. During the first week, take one teaspoon of the composition twice a day, and during the second week, take one tablespoon until the decoction is used up. Treatment with this method is long-term, with intervals of 7-10 days.

high blood pressure diet

Proper, balanced nutrition for people with hypertension is key to successfully combating the disease. It is worth remembering that with every additional kilogram, the number on the tonometer will increase. The main task is to achieve the optimal weight if the standard is not met. In order to normalize blood pressure, the following recommendations must be followed.

• Reduce salt intake. Because sodium retains water in the body, it increases circulating blood volume, which affects blood pressure. The amount of salt is approximately 4 grams. Ideally, no additional salt should be added to food during cooking.
• To normalize metabolism, you need to drink a sufficient amount of fluid, approximately 1. 5 liters per day. It is necessary to give priority to clean water, rosehip soup and "healthy" soups.
• Eliminate coffee, strong tea and alcohol from your diet.
• Eat in portions. It is important to distribute your diet in such a way that you eat evenly distributed foods five to eight times a day.
• Reduce your intake of meat and animal fats. Patients are advised to choose lean meats - turkey, veal, chicken, rabbit. It's best to cook without oil; if the meat seems bland, add herbs and lemon juice instead of salt. You should keep bacon, sausage, and butter in your diet as little as possible.
• It is important to increase the intake of vegetables and foods rich in potassium and magnesium: cereals, beets, carrots, dried apricots, cabbage.
• It is recommended to avoid confectionery products with high sugar content; prefer dried fruits, honey and whole grain products.
• Patients with high blood pressure should not fast. Strict fasting and dieting are taboo.

Disability caused by high blood pressureHypertension is a serious condition and in some cases, sufferers are considered disabled. It is typically used in patients with stage 2 or 3 disease or in patients with ongoing disease progression.If hypertension is in the first stage, the Medical Labor Council should help with employment, since jobs that increase stress, night work and exposure to harmful substances should be avoided.When determining disability, a special medical board evaluates impairment, the presence of complications, and a history of hypertensive crises. Sometimes, the third group can be diagnosed already in the second stage of hypertension.The second group of disabilities can be acquired by patients suffering from malignant diseases; in most cases it is incapable of working.For patients with grade 3 hypertension, the first disability group can be established if the following conditions occur:

• steady progress;
• severe heart failure;
• Severe organ dysfunction;
• Patients are unable to care for themselves and have limited movement and communication.

Prevent high blood pressure

Primary prevention should eliminate risk factors that lead to the development of hypertension:

• maintain a normal weight;
• Limit the use of salt;
• Eliminate bad habits – smoking, alcohol abuse;
• Try to avoid physical and mental stress;
• Prevent physical inactivity;
• Treat chronic disease.

Secondary prevention includes selection of medications to stabilize blood pressure and selection of a suite of supportive measures.